Cobras top Gladiators, 22-7, for second straight win

MIDDLEBORO — Against longtime rivals the Taunton Gladiators on Sunday night, the Middleboro Cobras didn't let the heat of the rivalry distract them from their ultimate goal.

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By GREG DUDEK

southcoasttoday.com

By GREG DUDEK

Posted Jul. 24, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2014 at 11:43 AM

By GREG DUDEK

Posted Jul. 24, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2014 at 11:43 AM

» Social News

MIDDLEBORO — Against longtime rivals the Taunton Gladiators on Sunday night, the Middleboro Cobras didn't let the heat of the rivalry distract them from their ultimate goal.

The Cobras defeated the Gladiators 22-7 at Taunton High School, as a strong second half sparked the team to a win and a 2-0 start to the 2014 Eastern Football League season.

Trailing 7-0 at halftime, the Cobras came up with three crucial scoring drives in the second half to secure a win over the defending EFL champions.

"It was a clutch day," said team owner and offensive lineman Garrett Perry. "Guys came through and made plays the entire game, exactly when we needed them to. When the offense was struggling, the defense made plays. When we were trailing was when the offense kicked in and just started moving the ball."

Middleboro also received help from an undisciplined Taunton defense.

On the Cobras' first drive of the third quarter, quarterback Kurt Leone had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown, but a pass interference call on the Gladiators negated the play.

Leone capitalized on the new life given to the offense, as he led the Cobras down the field, and on fourth-and-one from the Taunton 22-yard line, he hit wide receiver Dwayne Williams for a touchdown. A missed extra point pulled the Cobras within one, 7-6, with 10:09 left in the third quarter.

The Cobra defense forced a three and out on the ensuing Gladiator possession, giving Middleboro the opportunity to take the lead.

They did just that, and again got some help from Taunton. A personal foul by Taunton on an incomplete pass on third down and two offside penalties extended the Cobra drive late in the third quarter. The Cobras took full advantage of the penalties, as Leone found Williams for a seven-yard touchdown strike, and a successful two-point conversion pushed the Cobras out in front, 14-7, with 12:26 left in regulation.

"Our team kept their composure all game," said Cobras' head coach Chris Pabst. "That's all I asked from them. I said, 'The team that keeps its composure is going to win this game at the end of the day.' I know how heated this rivalry is between Middleboro and Taunton. It's the team that keeps a clean game, doesn't get a lot of flags and doesn't turn the ball over. That's why we got the W."

Williams is not always the go-to receiver for the Cobras. With defenses focusing mainly on wide outs Alex Smith and Jay Patterson, Williams can slip through the cracks.

"He has been a longtime veteran for us," Pabst said. "He's probably one of the most consistent players on the football team. We always say that Dwayne is probably one of our best athletes. You can put him in any position. He played great."

Taunton's offense struggled immensely throughout the game, and came up short when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, failing to convert a fourth down inside Cobra territory with 5:45 remaining in the game.

From there, the Cobras put an exclamation point on the win, as they took the ball down the field and punched it into the end zone with a four-yard touchdown run by Thaddeus France with six seconds left.

"Against a team that is as tough, talented and as good as Taunton, killing the entire six minutes at the end is a big deal," Perry said. "You give them six minutes, they'll win the game. That was good execution on our part."

While the offense carried out its game plan in the second half, the Cobra defense shut down the Gladiators for the full 60 minutes. The Gladiators only mustered up two first downs all game and turned the ball over twice against a dominate Cobra defense.

"That offense can score," Perry said. "They're balanced. They can do the whole deal. Holding them to seven is an impressive accomplishment."

The Gladiators' only score of the game came off a Leone interception just before halftime. With 1:47 left in the second quarter, Taunton linebacker Ray Tolliver intercepted the ball at the Cobra two-yard line, and then fumbled. But teammate Razzie Smith picked the ball up and walked into the end zone.

With the Taunton game behind them, the Cobras schedule doesn't get any easier. The Cobras will face off with another longtime rival in the Bay State Buccaneers (1-0) on Saturday night at Battis Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

"We are getting ready for a great Bay State team," Pabst said. "They beat us twice last year. They have our number. We definitely have to be well prepared for them and make sure we don't leave anything on the table."